The original concept of a van that could seat up to eight people comfortably along with all of their stuff was created in the 1950′s by Volkswagen. With small windows, wide front nose, and large trunk, these vans were mostly used to transport groups of people instead of families. Even though American auto companies made similar versions, these vans did not gain in popularity with the public.
In the 1960′s and 1970′s, the station wagon was the car of choice for growing families. Easy to drive, the station wagon could fit many people, luggage, and pets without any problem. The van idea was not forgotten about by those in the auto industry, but with other production problems, gas shortages, and conflicts in other countries draining the national and world economies, many in the industry were worried about their jobs and the future of their companies. Introducing a new type of car that had failed before was unrealistic and too risky.
But Lee Iacocca, who took over as president of Chrysler in 1978, decided to revisit the minivan concept. A few months after becoming president, he gave designers five hundred million dollars and told them to create the minivan. This risk paid off and the minivan was created. A few years later, other car manufacturers including Ford and GM came out with their own version of the minivan.
The design of the minivan had changed from the original version. The van now had larger windows, smaller front end, and sliding doors that would allow people to easily add and remove items. It also made it easier for people to get in and out of. With large trunk space, the minivan would be the perfect vehicle to take on a family vacation. Other safety features made the minivan safer than the station wagon or other type of van.
The minivan went on to become the car of choice for those with families, those who had to haul equipment, and for those who took long road trips and needed a vehicle that would provide comfort and storage. These days, minivans have to complete with SUV’s and other large vehicles.
Many manufacturers of minivans have included added accessories including televisions for children, food and drink consoles, fold-down seats in the back, and automatic doors. Additional safety features including side air-bags, and anti-lock brakes make the minivan safer to drive. All of these options have made minivans still one of the best selling vehicles of all time.